Patricia Jane White Fernandez

Patricia Jane (PJ) White Fernandez, 87, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2025. Born March 10, 1938, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the late Irven James White, Sr., and the late Irma (Pat) Rosemary Garvey White, both of New Orleans, Louisiana, PJ grew up in the Ninth Ward with her younger brother, the late Irven James (Jimmy) White, Jr., living on Alvar Street and attending St. Mary of the Angels Catholic School. The family later moved to Kentucky Street, and PJ attended the Academy of the Holy Angels High School. During this time, she enjoyed studying ballet and tap for 12 years—performing with Lea Brandon’s dance troupe at Carnival balls—as well as serving as a lifeguard at the Audubon Park swimming pool and performing in drama productions at Holy Angels and Holy Cross High School.

Toward the end of her high school career, PJ dated Wesley James Fernandez, whom she knew from living across the street. PJ continued her education at Loyola University until her marriage to Wesley in 1957 at St. Cecilia Church in New Orleans. Following the wedding, they moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where Wesley was stationed as a Lieutenant (physician) in the U.S. Navy. They returned to New Orleans two years later, where their daughter, Lisa Ann, was born. Wesley’s residency then brought them to Lafayette, where son David Garvey was born; to Shreveport, where son Christopher Patrick was born; and finally back to New Orleans.

In New Orleans, PJ was a parishioner of St. Pius X church and an active member in the parent/mothers’ organizations at the schools her children attended (St. Pius X, Christian Brothers School) as well as in the ladies’/women’s auxiliary organizations for several hospitals where Wesley was on staff (Mercy Hospital, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Methodist Hospital). As a member of the Academy of the Holy Angels Alumni Association, she was active in organizing class reunions for many years.

With her children in school in the 1970s, PJ started her long vocation in genealogical research as well as assisting in Wesley’s medical practice in her spare time. The research, conducted prior to the internet, relied on physical resources like family documents, local libraries, historical societies and travel to archives, requiring extensive time and effort to gather information. She was a dedicated and diligent researcher, traveling to churches, administrative offices, libraries and cemeteries in the U.S. and Europe to further her research for the White and Fernandez families. A member of the Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans for decades, PJ was one of the few granted access to the St. Louis Cathedral Archives prior to digital access.

During this time, PJ returned to college (Our Lady of Holy Cross College) to further her degree in lower elementary education. She also had several businesses, including a New Orleans walking tour company and Serendipity Gift Shop (with her dear cousin, Mary Ann Fradella).

Following a business trip to Dublin, PJ and Wesley decided to build a summer/retirement home in County Kerry in southwest Ireland. PJ spent the summer of 1983 overseeing the excavation of the property and the construction of their home in Roads—which became a special place for them to spend time with family and friends each summer for the rest of their lives.

PJ also gained two loving family members during this period: son-in-law Perry Cookmeyer and daughter-in-law Stacie Butcher Fernandez.

In Mandeville, PJ was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Lake church. She, along with a colleague, transcribed (from microfilm), compiled and published the 1880 Federal Census of New Orleans (eight volumes)—available in public libraries around the country for use in genealogical research. She enjoyed her research trips to Salt Lake City and continued her work for many years.

PJ also was a loving grandmother to Samantha Fernandez Teer, Eric James Cookmeyer, Evann Michelle Cookmeyer, and Stephanie Marie Fernandez, and more recently great-grandmother to Kerri Abigail Thompson and Ellis James Cookmeyer.

PJ was married to Wesley for more than 50 years until his death in 2008. In 2010, she moved to Bossier City and enjoyed being close to her son, David, and his family. PJ returned to Mandeville in 2020 and enjoyed being close to her daughter and her family.

PJ was a loving caregiver to loved ones who preceded her in death, and near the end of her life, she had devoted caregivers that her family wishes to acknowledge for their love and kindness to PJ and her family: Perry Cookmeyer, Sonia Landry, Courtney Sheehan, Chiquita Winston, Juanquale Pea, Denise Crawford, Tasheka Celius and K’Juan Suazo. The family would also like to thank her nurse, Georgette Aldrete, and her colleagues at Care Associates; Dr. Ricardo Febry; and special thanks to her primary care physician, Dr. Brian Galofaro.

Services will be held at Mary Queen of Peace on Thursday April 3, 2025 in Mandeville, Louisiana with a visitation starting  at 10:00 a.m. followed by  Mass beginning at 11:30 a.m.  A private burial will be held in Roads, Co. Kerry, Ireland.

Donations may be made to Breakthrough T1D (formerly The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), type1strong.org in memory of PJ. Memorial masses are also appreciated.